NEW
YORK (01-Jan) — A pair of B.A.A. unicorns were spotted ringing in the
New Year in style, sweeping victories here in Central Park at the 37th
NYRR Midnight Run, held at the stroke of midnight. Sarah Pagano and
Daniel Winn, both of whom represent the Boston Athletic Association,
won the classic four-mile road race with times of 18:34 and 21:13,
respectively, while teammate Katie Matthews was second for women.

As
the crystal ball dropped over Times Square less than a mile away,
thousands took off under a sky lit by fireworks. Pagano and Matthews
quickly found themselves in the women’s front pack, joined by NorCal
Distance Project’s Lianne Farber and The Heartbreakers’s Rosa Moriello.
By two and a half miles, Pagano and Matthews were alone out front.

Playing off their strengths just as they do in practice, Pagano and Matthews tackled the hills of Central Park as one.

“It’s
fun because we work together in all our workouts and we both have
different strengths and weaknesses. Katie’s really good at downhill
running, I’m a little bit stronger on the uphills,” said Pagano, a
Syracuse University alum. “We definitely ran a lot faster than we would
have if it was just one. That makes it really fun.”

By the
finish, Pagano had created a three second gap, winning the title in
21:13 over Matthews’ 21:16. Close friends, the pair shared an embrace
beyond the finish line.

“This is the first time I’ve run a New
York Road Runners race and I was really excited to come down here,”
said Pagano, a native of Ringwood, N.J. “I’ll start the year off with a
win!

“She had a little bit more left at the end,” added
Matthews. “This race was about having fun and starting the year right.
Our favorite thing to do is race and run, and why not kick off the New
Year that way. Our plan was definitely to work together and I think we
did that well.”

Next up, Pagano will race at the Great
Edinburgh Cross Country meet in Scotland on January 9. After that is
the Aramco Houston Half-Marathon on January 17.

“This has been
a fun experience, bringing in the New Year,” Pagano said before turning
her attention towards the upcoming races. “I love cross country, so
that will be exciting. We have a quick turnaround to Houston after. But
this was a good hard effort on a tough course, so it puts me in good
shape to go out and do the hills on the cross country course.”

Rounding
out the top six were Farber (21:26); Moriello (21:34); British Olympian
Lisa Dobriskey (22:27); and Cornell University Assistant Coach (and
steeplechaser) Genna Hartung (22:49).

DANIEL WINN CLAIMS FIRST VICTORY IN B.A.A. KIT

The
men’s race rapidly developed while fireworks were still booming high
above Central Park’s landscape. The B.A.A.’s Winn led ZAP Fitness’s Joe
Stilin and The Heartbreakers’ Louis Serafini by the first turn some 200
meters into the race.

Staying patient, Winn subsequently let
Stilin and Serafini manage the pace before squeezing down the gas
pedal. A mile specialist, Winn knew that if the race came down to the
final kilometer he’d have the advantage.

“Joe pushed the pace
early and I like to think a kick is my strong-suit, so I tried to just
be really patient and take the uphills as easy as I possibly could
while staying with it,” Winn said. “When Louis hadn’t broken me by the
end, I kind of let the hill open my stride up and I kind of looked back
in the final stretch and saw some space. I was able to enjoy the
homestretch.”

Though Stilin and Serafini put up valiant
efforts, it was Winn prevailing with a smile. He’d break the tape in
18:34, solidifying his first victory in the B.A.A.’s classic yellow
kit.

“My first win in a B.A.A. uniform! Great way to start
the new year,” Winn proclaimed. For his victory, Winn got a glass clock
trophy and earned $500 in prize money, plus a $100 time bonus for
breaking 19-minutes.

Since graduating from the University of
Oregon last spring, Winn has had consistent success under coach
Terrence Mahon. Recently he finished sixth at both the Manchester Road
Race on Thanksgiving and at the USA National Club Cross Country
Championships, before winning here tonight. Despite his improvement at
distances in excess of 5-K, Winn scoffs at the idea of becoming a long
distance runner.

“I’ve always found [distance] a lot more fun
than a lot of other milers would. With that being said, I can’t wait to
get back on the track,” Winn said with a laugh. “My next race will be a
track race, and I’m looking forward to that. As much as I enjoy these,
this [distance] is for the winter and fall. Now it’s time for track
stuff.”

Placing second was Serafini, a 24-year-old Boston
College graduate who lives in the Brighton section of Boston. Coming
off a year that saw him qualify for the Olympic Marathon Trials,
Serafini said his runner-up showing here was another confidence
builder.

“It was fun to mix it up with those guys up front,”
said Serafini. “2015 was a huge breakthrough year for me, so it’s cool
to keep the ball rolling into next year and keep improving. I have
nothing else on the schedule [aside from the Olympic Marathon Trials on
February 13 in Los Angeles]. This was kind of halfway through to see
where I was at. I’m looking forward to the rest of it.”

Stilin
placed third in 18:40, followed by B.A.A. member Julian Saad (19:12),
and former Providence College Friar Brian Doyle (19:22).

Just
before taking a toast to the New Year and leaving Central Park,
Matthews summed up the successful day for Team B.A.A. here.

“I
think we’re getting known in the Northeast,” she said. “As the year
continues, hopefully more and more people around the country recognize
the team and come to think of us as real good competition. It’s pretty
cool.”